Desktop Tower Defense 1.5 originated from the Arcade classic Rampart. The basic setup is very simple: You start off with an empty map featuring a maze of corridors and walls. Different types of defensive towers can be built on the walls, fending off wave after wave of incoming enemies, who become stronger and more diverse with each wave. The player loses if too many enemies get through the maze unharmed.

Desktop Tower Defense is considered one of the best implementations of the addictive Tower Defense genre. You start off with an empty map, and two gates on each side of the screen. Now, you can place towers on the empty field, which will have to try and destroy enemies racing from left to right. By strategically placing your towers, you can increase the path the enemies have to travel, but you are not allowed to completely block them. When extending your turret layout, you get to choose on either place more towers to increase the travel-time for your enemies, or to increase your existing towers to make them more effective. There are 50 levels to complete!

• Build moderately: save your money and build up interest early on. You'll need it later on

• Invest in range: Upgrading buildings often increases their range, making them far more effective

• Don't hesitate to trade in buildings: Especially later on, lower-level towers do not suffice any more, and space is scarce. Destroy old buildings, and replace them with more powerful towers

• Pause every now and then: As the game speeds up, take a breather regularly, or you might get overwhelmed. Use the pause to plan ahead.